Hey
The important question is not how to run it... rather WHO WILL run it.
Just remember the following harsh facts.
Few volunteers are stepping forth and running events. For example.
Tradewinds is put on by Rick White and a small handful of volunteers from CABB. If Rick said... not this year... what are the odds that the event flies?!
When the Tampa fleet told Hobie... No, we won't run a Hobie only event.... There were NO OTHER Fleets or indiviuals who jumped up to host the midwinters. Instead... the dealer (Kirk at Key sailing)was forced to step forward (without his sailing club though) and has held the event the last two years.
The Down the Bay run by CRAC has not been held in a couple of years... WHY??? For no other reason then we don't have any volunteers to replace the saintly BJ Watkins to run it! AND WE HAVE ASKED! Before BJ... Hans Meijer deserves an enormous amount of credit for reviving the race, promoting the race and generating one of the original big distance races in the US.
The New England 100 comes and goes for periods of time depending on who will volunteer to organize the race. I am sure they have a record of the true supporters who have done more then their fair share in making the event happen.
Three new distance races are on the schedule for 2003. Rick Bliss is spearheading the Tybee 500. Steve Piche is driving the Texas 500 and Carl Roberts is pumping the Michigan 500?? So far... it looks like the they will be very succesful. This is outstanding. Thank you in advance Rick, Steve and Carl. ...
BUT, WHY do we believe that these folks will want to do all of the work next year??? Hell... they might want to race it.
We can not EXPECT them to step forward again...
We can PRAY that they will but...
Who knows what the future holds.... In general... you would be more hopeful if a club of people were behind the events... but... for Now... GREAT! Let us be sure we do not loose sight of the individuals who make a huge commitment of time and their own money for seeing these events through. And they get to run them any damn way they please (note the restriction on supercat 22's and 12' wide boats)
Mike Worrell probably could have managed this problem differently and upset many fewer people.... the would have and could have list is long....
But we must never loose sight of the fact that HE has committed the time and energy to running the race in the past and plans to do so in the future.
Mike's goal is to not run a glorified DTB or NE100! He is committed to running an international event, with prize money. Obviously... this is not the same as original intent of the race ... NOR is it friendly to the sailors who just want to compete because it is an adventure! Nevertheless... that is what he wants to do!
Until someone else steps forward and convinces us that he is committed to running a similar event and is in it for the long haul perhaps with different goals... Go Mike Worrell!
